PES 2011 3D brings Pro Evolution Soccer to Nintendo 3DS – game review

It would take a very compassionate view to see this generation of consoles as anything but a disaster for Pro Evolution Soccer. It ended the PlayStation 2 era as the football connoisseur’s game of choice, but has done nothing but stumble in FIFA’s wake since this generation began. On the HD consoles it has anyway. Konami has produced some very credible Wii spin-offs and they’ve done a cracking job with this first 3DS game too.As innovative as the Wii games are they were clearly far too complicated for the console’s primary audience. Nevertheless they made some of the most inspired used of the Wii remote see in any game, sports or otherwise. In a similar fashion this features some of the most impressive use of stereoscopic 3D on the 3DS.Again it’s the static viewpoint that aids the game but it’s the over-the-shoulder ‘Player’ camera that really stands out. It’s an unusual third person view, pulled out far enough to give you a fair view of your surroundings but close enough that you get a real feeling of being on the pitch. It also clearly illustrates the practical benefits of 3D in allowing you to judge distance better.The way the camera will suddenly swing 180 degrees when the ball flies past you means the classic wide view (several variants of which are all available) is still the most generally useful but the Player camera is defintiely more than just a gimmick.Like many of the launch titles the starting point here seems to be the latest PSP version of the series. Switch to the wide camera, where the 3D effect is less pronounced, and it could almost be the same game but with better graphics and proper commentary.As daunting as the manual makes the long list of different controls seem the game doesn’t quite fit in all the features from the most recent home console versions, but instead feels more like a halfway house between them and the older (and better) PlayStation 2 titles.Unlike the modern games it’s again possible to hit the back of the net from well outside the box and passing is much more straightforward – with little attention paid to your player’s position or balance. Although you can use the Circle Pad the control is clearly still based on the digital movement of the D-pad, with no true analogue control.Surprisingly there’s no compromise when it comes to the artificial intelligence, which feels just as good as the home consoles, with players making sensible use of space and appearing to follow proper tactics – not just running after the ball like overexcited school kids.There are also some additional advantages to being on the 3DS, such as hiding the radar away on the touchscreen and being able to switch between tactics with a quick prod of your finger.In terms of game modes there’s no Become a Legend option – instead all you get is a simple exhibition match, the Champions League mode (for which Konami still has the exclusive rights), and Master League. Although again abridged from the home console versions the latter is still a substantial time sink, especially as there are now 60 national teams and 170 club slides.Master League also uses StreetPass to automatically compare your Master League side with those of passer-bys and rewards the best with a new ranking and classic players and teams.But of course the most important option with any sports game is the multiplayer, but as with all the launch games bar Super Street Fighter IV there’s no online play here. Instead all you get is a two-player wireless option that requires both players to own a copy of the game.Given the game’s likely popularity that’s not the end of the world, but it would’ve been nice to have some sort of single cart play, perhaps using just two stock teams.If the game’s a success then a yearly update becomes inevitable and many of these issues are likely to be addressed. Ironing out the rough edges and filling in the missing content will certainly be welcome but by that point the novelty of the Player camera and the 3D will likely have evaporated.It’s a good job then that the game underneath is good enough to survive such fickleness. In fact some fans, particularly those pinning for the glory days of Pro Evolution Soccer 5, may even prefer the simplified playing style and less ruthless realism.And so despite the obviously rushed development and missing features this almost ends up feeling more like a proper PES game than its home console rivals.In Short:Possibly the most impressive use of 3D amongst all the launch games, and despite some obvious gripes a good solid football sim to boot.Pros:Superb use of stereoscopic 3D in the Player view. An endearingly old-fashioned game of PES, with reliable controls and good artificial intelligence.Cons:A lot of rough edges and missing features. The Player view is a great gimmick but not practical in the long term. Only multicart two-player.Score:7/10Formats: 3DSPrice: £39.99Publisher: KonamiDeveloper: KonamiRelease Date: 25th March 2011Age Rating: 3